Bleacher structure



June 24, 1930. F, VANCE 1,766,316

BLEACHER STRUCTURE FileaNov. 14. 1928 2 sheets-sheet 1 z l .l g J /f/ 132, v f3 L in@ M 17g A A 19 Y l[47 ZU I? f5 [E I l ,L7 13 9 5 nl? 4 A f3 5 j@ 4 /4/ 2017/ Z3 W l 19 f '10 /lj A 1?/ 6 y 757755Z/ Wax/20: @W A3, 'am

June 24, 1930. F. vANcE BLEACHER STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 14. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C im E@ NNN f Nmmw EN 6| KN NN Patented June 24, 1.930

meant PATENT Fris ronnns'r vANon, or CHAMPAIGN, lILLnvoIs BLEACHER STRUCTURE Application led November 14, 1928. Serial No. 319,329.

This invention relates to portable or knockdown bleacher structures, and particularly to a novel construction of seat and footboard connectors associated therewith.

One of the obj ects of the present invention is to provide a connector for engaging the ends of adjacent seat boards or foot-boards in a manner to retain them in the same horizontal plane.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector for retaining t-he adjacent ends of the boards in end abutting engage* inent, and to secure them against horizontal displacement with respect to each other and to the connectors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a seat and foot-board connector of the character described having suitable means associated therewith for readily positioning the connectors in engagement with4 the seat supporting brackets and foot-board stirrups or hangers in a manner to secure the connectors against displacement with respect to said brackets and stirrups.

A further object of the invention is vto provide a seat and foot-board connector of strong, durable and simple construction, efficient in its operation, and which may be economically manufactured.

A still further. object of the invention is to improvedevices of this .character in sundry details hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

An embodiment of the invention is shown 35 for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a knock-down or :portable bleacher struc- -ture illustrating the application of my improved seat and foot-board connector thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view partly broken away of one of the connectors illustrated 1n Fig. 1 in inverted position, and showing the structure on the bottom side of the connector.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the connector shown in Fig. 1, the view being taken substantially as indicated by the line 3-3 thereof. 50 Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the connector illustrated in Fig. 1, the view being taken substantially as indicated by the line 1 -4t thereof. Y

Figs. 5, 6 and'7 are top plan, side and bottom plan views respectively, of a seat and foot-board connector illustrating a modified form of the present invention.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are top plan, side and .bottom plan views respectively, of a further modified form of seat and foot-board connector which the present invention may assume.

Referring to Figs. 1 to fl inclusive, the presentinvention is shown applied to a knockdown bleacher structure comprising a plurality of stringere 11 suitably supported in inclined position by supporting j aclrs or horses 1Q, the said stringers being provided on their upper edge with suitably positioned stanchions or brackets 13 for supporting the seatv boards 14, and on their lower edge with suitably positioned stirrups or hangers 15 for supporting the foot-boards 16 thereon.

For engaging the end portions of adjacent seat and foot-boards and positioning them in a common. horizontal plane with their adjacent ends in abutting engagement, and to secure the adjacent boards vagainst' horizontal and vertical displacement with respect to each other in a manner to provide a uniform flush surface at the `adj acent ends of said boards, a connector member 17 is provided. Y v

The form of connector shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive comprises` an elongated U-shaped member having a horizontally disposed base portion 18 and vertically disposed legv portions 19, the free endsiof said leg portions being provided with flange portions 20 adapted to` extend inwardly toward each other in a common plane rsubstantially parallel to the plane of the base portion i8.y j

The opposite open ends of the member 17 are adapted to receive the adjacent end portions of the seat and foot-boards 14 and 16, respectively, in a manner to partially surround the vend portions of the boards and retain them inend abutting position, the leg portions 19 of the connector serving to prevent lateral horizontal displacement ofthe boards,rand the base portion 18 and flange portions 2O acting to secure the ends'of thel boards against vertical displacement with respect to each other.

For securing the boards 14 and 16 against endwise movement with respect to the connector 17, one or more tongues 21 are provided, and, as shown in the drawings, may be formed from the material of the base portion 18 and bent inwardly of the U-shaped member in a manner to be engaged by the ends of the boards as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

For securing the connector 17 to the brackets 13 and hangers 15 in a manner to prevent horizontal and vertical displacement of the connector with respect thereto, a resilient clip 22 is formed preferably from the material of the base portion 18 and bent outwardly therefrom and in offset relation thereto in a manner to form a space between the clip and the outer or underside of the base portion 18 for the reception of the horizontal portion of the brackets 13 and hangers 15 to prevent any vertical movement and endwise movement in one direction of the connector with respect to the brackets and hangers 13 and 15, respectively, and to prevent endwise movement of the connector 17 in the opposite direction, the free end of the clip 22 is bent inwardly toward the base portion 18 in a manner to form a hook-like portion 23 as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, adapted to engage one edge of the bracket and hanger as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to resist the withdrawal of the clip from engagement therewith.

To enable the ready positioning of the brackets 13 and hangers 16 between the clips 22 and base portion 18 of the connectors, the free ends of the clips are provided Vadjacent the hook-portion 23 with an inclined cam portion 24 adapted to engage the edge of the brackets and hangers in a manner to cause the clips, due to their resiliency, to be flexed suiflciently to permit the portion 23 to pass across and be positioned over the edge of the brackets and hangers.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a connector of simple construction, having suitable means for securing the connector against horizontal and vertical displacement with respect to the brackets 13 and hangers 15., and whereby the seat and foot-boards are retained in a horizontal plane against horizont-al and vertical displacementl with respect to eachother and said connector, and against longitudinal movement with respect to the connector.

rIhe modified form of connector shown in Figs. to 7 inclusive comprises a plurality of U-sha-ped members 25 adapted to engage the opposite edges of a seat or foot-beard and be secured thereto, adjacent one of its end portions, by means of bolts 26S, the members 25 being positioned on the board toA which they are attached in a manner to extend a substantial distance beyond the end of the board to provide a socket-like structure adapted to receive the end portion of an adjacent board and provide a support for retaining the end portion of suoli adjacent board against horizontal and vertical displacement with respect to the connector and the seat or foot-board to which the connector is secured.

The leg portions of the members 25 on one side of the board are provided with clips 27, of a construction similar to the clip 22 shown in Figs. 2 to l inclusive for engaging the brackets 13 or hangers 15, thereby securing the connector or members 25 against horizontal and vertical displacement with respect to the brackets and hangers.

rlhe fur ler modiiied form of connector shown in Figs. S to 10 inclusive comprises a plurality ofplates 23 and 29 secured to the upper and loweil faces of the seat or footboards at one end of the board, by means of bolts 30 (shown only in Figs. 8 and 10), and preferably adjacent the central portion thereof, the plates 23 and 29 being so positioned as to extend a substantial distance beyond the end of the board in a manner to receive, between their vfree end portions, the end portion of an adjacent seat or foot-board to provide a support for the end of such adjacent board and prevent relative vertical displacement of the end portions of abutting boards.

Formed on the plate 29 secured to the lower face of the board is a clip 31 similar to the clip described with reference to Figs. 1 to #l inclusive, and shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, for engagingthe horizontal portion of the brackets 13 or hangers 15 to secure the connector and board to which it is attached against horizontal and vertical displacement with respect to the supporting brackets and hangers.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the structure disclosed in Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive provides a form of connector adapted to be permanently secured to one end of a seat or foot-board in a manner j to extend beyond the end thereof for the purpose of receiving the end of an adjacent board to which no connector is attached, and

that means are provided in connectors of this type for securing tnem against horizonj tal and vertical displacement with respect to the brackets and hangers on which they are mounted.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction shown and described, as the same may be variously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variously differentk lcombinations f and sub-combinations.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A. seat and foot-board connector for bleacher structures comprising a longitudinal U-shaped member having a base portion and leg portions formed thereon, flange portions formed on the free ends of the leg portions ot said member and adapted to extend inwardly toward each other in a common plane substantially parallel to the base portion of the member, a resilient clip associated with said member and oiiset from the plane thereof in a manner to extend substantially parallel thereto, a hook portion formed at the free end of said clip, and a cam portion adjacent the said hook portion at the free end of said clip and inclined at an angle With respect thereto.

2. A seat and Jfoot-board connector for bleacher structures comprising a U-shaped member, ange portions adjacent the free ends of the legl portions of said member and adapted to extend inwardly toward each other in a plane substantially parallel to the base portion of the member, and a clip associated with said base portion and offset from the plane thereof in a manner to extend substantially parallel thereto.

8. A seat and foot-board connector for bleacher structures comprising a longitudinal U-shaped member, flange portions formed on the free ends of the leg portions of said member and adapted to extend inwardly toward each other in a common plane substantially parallel to the base portion of the member, a resilient clip formed on said base portion and o'-set from the plane thereof in a manner to extend substantially parallel thereto, and a cam portion formed at the free ends of said clip and inclined at an angle with respect thereto.

n testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this 30th day of Getober, 1928.

Y FORREST VANCE. 

